Bhutan’s experience in

implementation strategies for

Climate Change Adaptation:

Prioritizing implementation Action

NAP Expo 2015

15 April 2015,

Bonn, Germany

Mr. Thinley Namgyel &

Mr. Ugyen Tshering

National Environment Commission

Royal Government of Bhutan

Outline

Bhutan’s Vulnerability to Climate Change

Adaptation Priorities, Plans & activities

Experiences in prioritizing implementation

Next Steps for National Adaptation Plans

Challenges and lessons learned

Bhutan’s Vulnerability

to Climate Change

Bhutan’s Geography

• A Landlocked least developed country

• Fragile mountainous landscape

– Eastern Himalayas

• Forest cover: 72% India

China

India

Nepal

• Heavy dependence and climate

sensitive sectors

– Agriculture

– Hydropower

• Population: 720,000

– 36% urban and 64% rural

– Mainly dependent on

subsistence farming

Economy

Current Threats and Vulnerabilities

• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods

– due to rise temperature

• Land Degradation

– Landslides, erosion due to

changes in weather patterns,

high intensity of rainfall, cyclones

etc.

• Flashfloods

– Intense rainfall periods, cyclones

during and around monsoon

season

Current Vulnerabilities

• Droughts

– Especially in dry season

• Wind/thunder/hail storms

• Pests and diseases

Adaptation Priorities and Plans

Adaptation Plans

• National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) – Short term “urgent and immediate needs”

• Chapter on Vulnerability and Adaptation in Second National Communication to UNFCCC – Climate change scenarios

– Vulnerability and adaptation priorities for all sectors

National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)

NAPA document prepared in 2005

• Nine prioritized actions identified in 2005

• 3 actions implemented under 1st NAPA implementation project

NAPA project profiles updated 2012

• Eight prioritized actions identified including those remaining from 2005

Ongoing Implementation of NAPA

• 2nd NAPA implementation project ongoing

• 3rd NAPA implementation project under formulation (Project

Information Form Approved)

Medium - Long term Adaptation Priorities

Part of Vulnerabilities & Adaptation Chapter to for Second National Communication to UNFCCC

• Economic Diversification

• Climate proofing of hydropower and infrastructure

– Hydro dams already being built/designed with consideration of GLOF risk

• Agriculture research and diffusion of appropriate varieties and techniques

• Water resources management

• Diversification of energy mix

• Protection of forests and parks

• Scaling up of GLOF Risk Reduction

• Integrating climate change into development

• …

Priority actions for Adaptation Technology

In 2nd Technology Needs Assessment

Priority Sectors and Technology for Adaptation

Agriculture

• Diffusion of drought and pest resistant varieties of crops in Bhutan by

strengthening the domestic institutional structure, undertaking pilots and

establishing a national seed development fund.

Water

• Diffusion of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in Bhutan by designing

innovative financing mechanisms and capacity building of implementing

entities in Bhutan.

Natural Disasters and Infrastructure

• Promoting and Implementing Climate-Resilient Farm Road Development

Implementing Adaptation

First NAPA Implementation Project

Reducing Climate Change-induced Risks and Vulnerabilities

from Glacial Lake Outburst Floods

in the Punakha-Wangdi and Chamkhar Valleys

(2008-2013)

(US$ 3.45m from LDCF)

Three Components

1. Artificial lowering of water level in Thorthormi Lake

2. Increase capacity for disaster risk management in affected valleys

3. Installing Technical Early Warning System for glacial lake outburst floods

Location of most dangerous glacial lake: Thorthormi

Lowering water level of Thorthormi Lake

Early Warning System & Disaster Preparation

2nd NAPA implementation Project

Addressing the Risks of Climate Induced Disasters through Enhanced

National and Local Capacity for Effective Actions

$11.4m (2014-2017)

funded by LDCF + other co-financiers

Coordinated by:

– National Environment Commission Secretariat

Implemented by:

– Phuentsholing thromde (city)

– Mongar municipality (Mongar dzongkhag/district)

– Tarayana Foundation

– Department of Disaster Management (Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs)

– Forest resources Management Section (Ministry of Agricuture and Forests)

– Department of Hydromet Services (Ministry of Economic Affairs)

– Water Resources Coordination Division (NECS)

2nd NAPA implementation Project

Outcome 1: Risk from Climate-induced floods and landslides reduced in Bhutan’s economic

and industrial center, Phuentsholing and Pasakha Industrial Area

Outcome 2:

Community resilience to climate-induced disaster risks (droughts, floods,

landslides, windstorms, forest fires) strengthened in at least four dzongkhags

Outcome 3

Relevant information about climate-related risks and threats shared across

development sectors for planning and preparedness on a timely and reliable

basis

Landslide areas in Phuentsholing

Rinchending Checkpoint

Area: 38 Ac.

West-Reldri slide

Area: 12 Ac.

Rinchending Goenpa

Area: 17 Ac. RBA colony & Old Hospital,

Area: 28.39Ac

Participatory consultations in communities

by Tarayana Foundation

Future activities for Adaptation

Formulation of National Adaptation Plans (NAP)

• Kick start in May 2015

• Coordinated by National Climate Change Focal Agency (NECS)

• Some groundwork on elements already undertaken;

– initial stock taking of activities,

– capacity needs,

– baselines on perceptions of risk,

– Build on outputs of NAPA and V&A in Second National Communication

and other work in sectors

– institutional arrangements

• Work on NAP to be initiated together with ongoing work on developing

an Intended Nationally Determined Contribution(INDC) as part of

broader integrated climate change action.

Funding uncertain for NAP and NAPA 3rd Project

... supposed to be available in LDC Fund

Experiences in Prioritizing Adaptation

Experiences in Prioritizing Adaptation

• Most relevant experience is from NAPA

– Selection, and ranking of vulnerabilities and activities for implementation

– UNFCCC/LEG Guidelines for prioritization and ranking of activities was very

useful

• Multi-criteria Analysis + Participatory and consultative process

• Prioritization of sectors and actions during Technology Needs

Assessment (TNA)

– adopted NAPA approach by modifying guidelines for TNA

• V&A under Second National Communication process

– Only selection of adaptation actions (relevancy to climate change)

– no prioritization of activities

• Similar approaches and formulas used in allocating budget for national

development activities

Lessons in Prioritizing Adaptation Action

1. Using a flexible prioritization approach like multi-criteria analysis helps in

decision making for prioritization of activities for implementation … especially

with limited information

2. A multi-sectoral consultative approach is essential for ensuring

acceptance/legitimacy and ownership of outcomes

3. Ensuring adequate and effective participation from all stakeholders is

challenging and requires a driver/champion

4. Understanding and capacity at local and sectoral level is important for

effective participation

5. Expectations and reality must match. Non-delivery of action after expending

energy on prioritization is detrimental due to “fatigue” of participatory

consultations for all sorts of development activities

Challenges

1. Funding and implementation not certain for NAP and NAPA

implementation

– Development of NAP Medium size project proposal under LDCF on

hold

– no traditional donors & development partners interested

– 3rd NAPA Project Information Form(PIF) approved but development of

full proposal put on hold

2. Capacity for NAP process will be essential

– Awareness and knowledge on NAP process can be raised easily…

– … but capacity needs on key elements such as V&A, data and info

difficult

– Capacity needs identified through various programmes but not

implemented yet

Challenges

3. Maintaining momentum

• Most donors interested in needs assessments & policy development… not

implementation

• Sectors see assessments and strategies to be waste of time, if no follow up

with action

4. Data and information

• Data history (climatic, disasters etc) very short

• Quality of data is poor

• Poor data archival and management.

• Mountainous conditions make global and regional climatic data sets

useless